Andean siskin
The Andean siskin (Spinus spinescens) is a small green-and-yellow finch in the Fringillidae family. It is listed as Least Concern and lives in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, mainly in the northern Andes. It favors subtropical or tropical montane forests, high-altitude shrublands and grasslands, and can also be found in heavily degraded forests. It typically occurs from about 1,500 to 3,700 meters above sea level and often forages on or near the ground, sometimes in open hillsides with scattered trees.
Adults: males have a distinctive black cap; females are duller olive with a white belly. It is about 9.5–11 cm long and may weigh around 11.5 g. The bird has deep green upperparts with black and yellow on the wings and tail. Subspecies vary in color; for example, S. s. nigricauda is a duller green with an all-black tail and yellow bases only on the inner wing feathers. Some classifications include S. s. capitaneus with the main form.
Its call is a goldfinch-like tswee, and the song is a high-pitched, lively rambling with rolling trills. The Andean siskin is usually seen in pairs or small flocks (up to about 20) and often perches high in trees but forages on or near the ground. It feeds mainly on seeds, especially Espeletia seeds and flowers.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 05:33 (CET).